Mah, Jan
Jan Mah (née Wong) is a third generation Chinese Canadian. Her parents were part-owners and operators of the Sunrise Drive-in Restaurant from 1956 to the 1970s, one the first Chinese restaurants with carhop service in Calgary, Alberta. Growing up, Jan worked at the restaurant’s dairy bar and also immersed herself in community and social activities. She led a busy work life, becoming the first woman to recruit for executive positions at a recruiting firm. In addition to raising her son and establishing a career, Jan has been an active contributor to Calgary’s Sien Lok Society as Lifetime Honourary Director and President. Jan resided in Calgary at the time of the interview.
‘I don’t think [women] were very visible. They did their church stuff… But I think that they were very much at home.’
Jan Mah discusses Chinese Canadian women’s limited social sphere in the first half of the 20th century, and the extent to which this has grown during her lifetime. Jan highlights the church as an important social space in early Chinatowns.
/ 
